Louis is a popular masculine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Germanic given name "Hludwig," which is composed of the elements "hliud" meaning "famous" and "wiga" meaning "war." Therefore, Louis means "renowned in war."
The name Louis has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous is King Louis XIV of France, who ruled from 1643 until his death in 1715. Known as the Sun King, he was responsible for building the Palace of Versailles and transforming France into a major European power. Additionally, Saint Louis IX, also king of France, is remembered for his acts of charity and devotion to justice.
The name Louis has also been popular among other European royal families. For instance, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary had a son named Ludwig (the German form of Louis). In Belgium, King Leopold III had a son named Baudouin, whose full name was Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Maria Josef Willem Henri Thadeus Egon Pieter Paulus Antoine Ghislain Louis Antoon Filip Jan Zeger Johan Count of Flanders.
Today, Louis remains a popular choice for parents naming their sons. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its rich history and strong associations with power, leadership, and nobility. Furthermore, the name has a certain timelessness and elegance that continues to resonate with people across different cultures and generations. Despite its warrior origins, Louis is now often seen as a name that conveys qualities such as wisdom, sophistication, and gentility. Its popularity has also led to numerous variations and derivatives, including Louisianna (the American state), Luigi (Italian form), Ludwig (German form), and Louie or Louise (diminutives).
Based on the statistics provided for the name Louis in the United States between 1880 and 2023, we can observe several trends over time.
From 1880 to around 1915, the number of births with the name Louis fluctuated between 5 and 55 per year. The peak during this period was in 1915 with 50 births. After 1915, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Louis until the late 1930s.
Between 1936 and 1942, the number of births with the name Louis fell below 30 each year, reaching its lowest point during this period in 1942 with only 22 births. This trend continued into the 1950s, with the lowest point being 18 births in 1954.
However, beginning in the mid-1950s, there was a gradual increase in the popularity of the name Louis once again. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the number of births with the name Louis rose back up to around 20 per year.
The trend of moderate popularity continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with the number of births with the name Louis fluctuating between 5 and 24 each year. However, since the early 2000s, there has been a noticeable decline in the popularity of the name Louis once again.
From 2000 to 2023, the number of births with the name Louis remained consistently low, with only 5 births reported in most years. The highest point during this period was in 2020 with 6 births.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there were 2,841 births with the name Louis in the United States. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, Louis remains a classic and timeless name choice for parents in America.